Container With mid-level closure and tear-off features

ABSTRACT

A snack food package employs a container bag that has an area of weakness formed at a location about one-third of the way down from the top to enable facile removal of an emptied upper section of the bag. An associated closure strip assembly is located just below the area of weakness to enable closing of the bottom section of the bag containing remaining product. Covering elements overlie the exposed surfaces of the closure strip components, to protect them against contamination by particulate matter, until the top section of the bag has been removed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Myriad consumable products that consist of large quantities similar pieces are conventionally packaged in flexible containers, typically made from plastic films, paper, foil, and laminates comprised of such materials. Because the product will often be consumed over a period of time, it is common to include means for reclosing the container after a portion of its contents has been removed.

A highly convenient and effective form of reclosure means consists of a pair of aligned strip components running across the top of the container, on confronting interior surfaces, and comprising manually interengageable, mated elongate elements, typically of tongue-and-groove-like form. A silder or the like may be provided to assist opening and closing, and two or more parallel elements may be provided on each component for increased closure security and sealing effectiveness.

Although numerous applications for flexible containers of the kind described are well known and will readily occur to the average consumer, an especially important and widespread use is for the packaging of snack foods, such as chips and nibbles, of various kinds, nuts, candy, etc. Pelletized pet foods, agricultural products, and the like, might be mentioned as additional areas in which flexible packaging is widely used, albeit reclosure means is not known to be commonly provided on containers used for such products

One inherent disadvantage of the containers presently available for packaging of consumable products of the kind referred to involves the inconvenience of access (visual and physical) to unused contents. The degree of inconvenience increases with the length of the container and with the level at which the product lies after a quantity has been consumed.

Contamination of the interengageable elements of such mated closure means, such as by grains or granules of salt or sugar, fine food particulates, or the like, can compromise performance, not by only diminishing the effectiveness of closure, in general, but more specifically by interfering with effective sealing and thus with preservation of product freshness. A partially empty container may also be found to be particularly unaesthetic due to the presence of excess, unutilized packaging material.

Although the prior art in the general field of the present invention is well developed, as represented by the United States patents and published applications listed below, the concerns hereinabove expressed do not appear to have been addressed:

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BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is a broad object of the present invention to provide a package, and a container utilized therein, wherein and whereby access to a remaining mass of a partially consumed product contained therein is facilitated.

Other objects of the invention are to provide such a package and container wherein and whereby effective and optimized closure is promoted, and wherein and whereby a partially filled container may have an improved appearance.

A related object of the invention is to provide a method for partially consuming a product mass contained in a bag or like container, whereby a remaining portion of the contents is optimally maintained.

It has now been found that certain of the foregoing and related objects of the invention are readily attached by the provision of a package comprised of a normally closed container defining an interior space, and a consumable product mass contained in the container and normally substantially filling the interior space, the consumable product mass consisting of a large quantity of discrete pieces of similar solid matter. The container has a top and a bottom, and mutually spaced opposite lateral portions extending therebetween, and is comprised of at least two substantially flexible wall portions defining the interior space and having mutually confronting interior surfaces. An intermediate closure strip assembly extends substantially entirely across the container between the opposite lateral portions and at a level intermediate the top and bottom thereof. The intermediate closure strip assembly is spaced from the top of the container by at least about one-quarter of the distance between the top and bottom, to define a top section, and is spaced from the bottom of the container by at least about one-quarter of the distance, to define a bottom section. The closure strip assembly is comprised of a pair of mated, elongate interengageable closure strip components, normally spaced from one another with one component affixed on the interior surface of each of the wall portions of the container and with a portion of the product mass (of the filled container) interposed therebetween, elements of the closure strip components being aligned for mated interengagement in the substantial absence of the interposed product. At least one area of weakness, or tear line, extends across each of the wall portions within the top section of the container, adjacent the corresponding intermediate closure strip assembly component. The areas of weakness are aligned with one another to enable facile, manual removal of the top section of the container from the remainder thereof, following which the container may be closed, at the intermediate level, by use of the intermediate closure strip assembly.

Additional objects of the invention are attained by the provision of a package, as hereinabove and hereinafter described, wherein displaceable protective cover elements, normally overlying confronting surfaces of the interengagable elements of the intermediate closure strip components, are provided so as to prevent substantial contamination of their functional surfaces by the product mass or by associated materials. In preferred embodiments the protective cover elements are attached to (or integrally formed on) the wall portions of the container at locations spaced from the lines of weakness, toward the top and within the container, so as to be removed simultaneously with removal of the top section.

Further objects are attained by the provision of a container, as hereinabove and hereinafter described, and still further objects are provided by the provision of a method for consuming a product mass, utilizing a package comprised of the normally closed container herein described. In accordance with the method, the package is initially opened, and a portion of the consumable product mass is removed, thereby reducing the contents so as to fill only the bottom section of the container. The top section of the container is then removed, by separation along the areas of weakness, and finally closure of the bottom section of the container is effected utilizing the intermediate closure strip assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a package embodying the present invention, including a container bag shown in partial section and from which wall portions are broken away to expose both a contained product mass and also protective cover elements overlying the components of an intermediate closure strip assembly; and

FIG. 2 is a front (or rear) view of the package of FIG. 1 from which a wall portion of the container bag is broken away to show the contained product and the protective cover elements, and from which a top portion has been removed to open the bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning now in detail to the appended drawings, therein illustrated is a package embodying the present invention and comprised of a container, in the form of a bag generally designated by the numeral 10, containing a product (e.g., a snack food) comprised of a large quantity of discrete pieces 12.

The bag 10 provides opposite wall portions 14, 16, which wall portions may be of multi-layer laminated construction (consisting, for example, of at least one layer of a plastic film bonded to a layer of metal foil). It will be appreciated that, in the illustrated embodiment, the bag 10 is fabricated from a tubular section, and that, while wall portions 14, 16 are without definitive boundaries, they are generally distinguishable due to deformation caused by the presence of a top, laterally extending seam 18 and a bottom laterally extending seam 20, which define the top and bottom limits of the interior space and also produce distinguishable (but again not definitive) opposite lateral portions 22. It will be appreciated that a similar container bag can be constructed by joining separate wall portions to one another with lateral seams (not illustrated), rather than being elements of a unitary component, in which case the lateral portions may be well defined. In any event, when the bag 10 is empty and flattened, the wall portions 14, 16, in the illustrated embodiment, will lie against one another and be substantially coextensive.

About one-third of the way down from the top of the bag 10 are provided a first elongate intermediate closure strip component 24, extending across the interior surface 17 of the wall portion 14 and, in alignment therewith, a second elongate closure strip component 26 on the interior surface of the opposite wall portion 16. The closure strip components 24, 26 extend between the opposite lateral portions 22, and may be provided by separately formed parts secured to the inner surfaces 17 or, in appropriate instances, integrally formed therewith.

The closure strip component 24 on the wall portion 14 is formed with a groove 26 that extends along its length, and the closure strip component 28 on the opposite wall portion 16 is formed with a rib or tongue 30 that extends along its length. As will be appreciated, the tongue 30 of component 28 is dimensioned and configured to be received in the groove 26 of the component 24 and to be engaged, with a friction or interference fit, by the groove-defining structure, to thereby produce a secure and substantially sealed mated relationship. Interengagement is achieved by pressing the elements 26, 30 of the strip components 24, 28 together, as by the application of simple manual closing force, generally by running one's opposed thumb and forefinger across the width of the bag 10; alternatively, a mechanical slider or the like may be provided to assist closure.

Lines or areas of weakness 32, formed into both wall portions 14, 16, also extending laterally across substantially the entire width of the bag, the areas 32 registering substantially with one another when the closure strip components 24, 28 are similarly mutually aligned. The lines or areas 32 are constructed to permit manual tearing across the width of the bag 10, so as to enable facile removable of an upper section A from a lower section B; a notch or other feature (not shown) may be provided to initiate properly localized tearing. While they are certainly preferred for optimal convenience, the weakened areas or lines may be eliminated in certain instances, with section separation being effected using scissors or another cutting device.

Somewhat arbitrarily, the features are so located that section A comprises approximately one-third of the length of the bag 10 (measured from top to bottom), with the section B constituting the remaining two-thirds of the length. Needless to say, after the top section A is removed the bottom section B can be closed by interengagement of the intermediate closure strip components 24, 28; this would normally occur when a corresponding volume of the contained product 12 has been consumed and product is no longer interposed between the closure components. The specific proportions of the sections A and B may vary substantially, depending upon the overall dimensional and volumetric characters of the container. Indeed, a long container might desirably be constructed to have, for example, three sections, with two intermediate closure assemblies (and associated areas of weakness) being provided to define a central section as well as top and bottom sections.

Because snack foods and the like are typically covered with salt, sugar, flavorings, seasonings, or other particulate matter (and indeed, because they themselves tend to produce particulates), a tendency would exist for such matter to deposit on the surfaces of the closure elements 26, 30. Such contamination would tend not only to interfere with the attainment of an effective, air-tight seal when the components are interengaged but, indeed, the presence of a substantial amount of contamination could preclude effective interengagement. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, therefore, the container is provided with protective cover (or shielding or masking) elements 34 (shown fragmentarily in FIG. 2), which extend laterally across the width of the bag with one element 34 normally overlying the surface of each closure strip component 24, 28 to prevent (or at least diminish) deposits of particulate matter on the engagement surfaces of the associated components. (The product pieces 12 are shown fragmentarily in FIG. 2, to expose underlying elements 24, 26, 32, and 34.)

The protective cover elements 34 will most desirably be attached to the parts of the wall portions that define the upper section of the bag, above the lines of weakness 32. Such a construction will cause the cover elements 34 to be removed automatically along with those parts of the bag, as when the product 12 has fallen to a level at which closure of the lower portion B would normally be effected, to functionally expose the strip components 24, 28 so as to permit that to occur.

It will be noted that, in addition to being provided with intermediate closure strip components 24 and 28, corresponding top closure strip components 24′, 28′ are formed immediately below the top seam 18, and include groove and tongue elements, 26′ 30′. Corresponding areas of weakness 32′ also extend across the bag, between the top seam 18 and the strip components 24′, 28′, and an associated opening-initiation notch 36 (only the remaining fragment of which is seen) is provided at one end. Needless to say, the bag 10 is initially opened by tearing along the areas of weakness 32′, and the bag can be closed by interengagement of the elements 26′, 30′ on components 24′, 28′, again by the application of force across the bag.

Flexible wall portions comprising the container will normally be gas-impermeable, particularly when the package contains a food product. They will advantageously be comprised of a film of synthetic resinous material (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate), a foil element, a paper element, or a plural- or multi-layer laminate comprised of combinations of such web materials; the wall portions will typically be about 3 to 12 mils thick.

Although, as noted above, the intermediate closure strip assembly (and associated elements) will preferably be spaced from the top of the container by about one-third of the distance between the top and bottom, other proportions may be preferred. As a practical matter, however, any defined section will usually constitute at least one-quarter of the overall length of the container that is available product containment.

A first component of the closure strip assembly will usually be formed with at least one groove (or other “female”) element extending lengthwise in the confronting surface thereof, and a second component will similarly be formed with at least one tongue element (or rib, rail, or other “male” element), engageable in the at least one groove element of the first component. Albeit preferred, it will be appreciated that the male and female elements need not be continuous or of uniform configuration, as long as secure, mated interengagement is afforded.

As also discussed above, the package will normally additionally include a closure strip assembly extending between the opposite lateral portions of the container and at a location adjacent the top. It may be comprised, affixed, and aligned as described with respect to the intermediate closure strip assembly, or the closure assemblies may have different features and characteristics, if necessary or desirable.

Lines or areas of weakness may be produced by any suitable means, such as chemical treatment, embossment, and laser or mechanical perforation, although complete perforation will of course be undesirable where freshness of the contained product is a factor. Closure features may include sliders or other suitable devices for facilitating interengagement of the mating elements.

It will be appreciated that, except as may be dictated by practical considerations, there is no limitation upon the size of the containers to which the concepts of the present invention may be applied; for example, they would obviously be superfluous where the total contents (e.g., of a small bag) would normally be consumed at a single sitting. Also, while containers having gussets, pleats, folds, flat bottom walls, and the like are contemplated, in most instances the container will be substantially flat when empty and collapsed, with the opposite wall portions substantially coextensive. Other modifications and variations, within the scope of the appended claims, will undoubtedly occur to those skilled in the art.

Thus, it can be seen that the present invention provides a package, and a container utilized therein, wherein and whereby access to a remaining mass of a partially consumed product contained therein is facilitated. Effective and optimized closure of the container may be promoted, and a partially filled container may have improved appearance. The invention provides a method for partially consuming a product mass contained in a bag or like container, whereby a remaining portion of the contents is optimally maintained. 

1. A package comprised of a normally closed container defining an interior space, and a consumable product mass contained in said container and normally substantially filling said interior space, said consumable product mass consisting of a large multiplicity of discrete pieces of similar solid matter; said container having a top and a bottom, and mutually spaced opposite lateral portions extending therebetween, and being comprised of two substantially flexible wall portions defining said interior space and having mutually confronting interior surfaces; an intermediate closure strip assembly extending substantially entirely across said container between said opposite lateral portions and at a level intermediate said top and bottom thereof, said intermediate closure strip assembly being spaced from said top by at least about one-quarter of the distance between said top and bottom, to define a top section of said container, and being spaced from said bottom by at least about one-quarter of said distance, to define a bottom section of said container; said intermediate closure strip assembly being comprised of a pair of mated, interengageable elongate closure strip components, one of said closure strip components being affixed on the interior surface of each of said wall portions of said container, and said closure strip components being normally spaced from one another with a portion of said product mass interposed therebetween, elements of said closure strip components being longitudinally aligned for mated interengagement in the substantial absence of said interposed product mass portion; displaceable protective cover elements normally overlying confronting surfaces of said interengageable elements of said closure strip components so as to prevent substantial contamination of said confronting surfaces by said product mass or associated materials; and at least one area of weakness provided on each of said wall portions of said container and extending thereacross within said top section of said container adjacent said intermediate closure strip assembly, said areas of weakness being aligned with one another to enable facile, manual removal of said top section of said container from the remainder thereof, following which the container may be closed at said intermediate level using said intermediate closure strip assembly.
 2. The package of claim 1 wherein said product mass is a snack food.
 3. The package of claim 1 wherein said flexible wall portions are comprised of a synthetic resinous material, a metal foil, paper, or a laminate of combinations thereof.
 4. The package of claim 1 wherein said intermediate closure strip assembly is spaced from said top of said container about one-third of said distance between said top and said bottom, to define said top and bottom sections.
 5. The package of claim 1 wherein said pair of closure strip components comprises a first component formed with at least one groove element extending longitudinally along said confronting surface thereof, and a second component formed with at least one tongue element, engageable in said at least one groove element of said first component, extending longitudinally on said confronting surface thereof.
 6. The package of claim 1 wherein said protective cover elements are attached to said wall portions of said container at locations spaced from said areas of weakness toward said top of said container so as to be removable simultaneously with removal of said top section.
 7. The package of claim 1 additionally including a top closure strip assembly extending substantially entirely across said container between said opposite lateral portions and at a location adjacent said top of said container, said top closure strip assembly being comprised, affixed, and aligned as aforesaid with respect to said intermediate closure strip assembly.
 8. The package of claim 7 additionally including means formed thereinto for facilitating removal of a top marginal portion, above said top closure strip, for opening of said container.
 9. The package of claim 1 wherein said container is substantially flat, with said wall portions substantially coextensive, when said container is empty and collapsed.
 10. A package comprised of a normally closed container defining an interior space, and a consumable product mass contained in said container and normally substantially filling said interior space, said consumable product mass consisting of a large multiplicity of discrete pieces of similar solid matter; said container having a top and a bottom, and mutually spaced opposite lateral portions extending therebetween, and being comprised of two substantially flexible wall portions defining said interior space and having mutually confronting interior surfaces; an intermediate closure strip assembly extending substantially entirely across said container between said opposite lateral portions and at a level intermediate said top and bottom thereof, said intermediate closure strip assembly being spaced from said top by at least about one-quarter of the distance between said top and bottom, to define a top section of said container, and being spaced from said bottom by at least about one-quarter of said distance to define a bottom section of said container; said closure strip assembly being comprised of a pair of mated, interengageable elongate closure strip components, one of said closure strip components being affixed on the interior surface of each of said wall portions of said container, and said closure strip components being normally spaced from one another with a portion of said product mass interposed therebetween, elements of said closure strip components being longitudinally aligned for mated interengagement, in the substantial absence of said interposed product mass portion; and at least one area of weakness provided on each of said wall portions of said container and extending thereacross within said top section of said container adjacent said intermediate closure strip assembly, said areas of weakness being aligned with one another to enable facile, manual removal of said top section of said container from the remainder thereof, following which the container may be closed at said intermediate level using said intermediate closure strip assembly.
 12. A container defining an interior space for containing a consumable product mass consisting of a large multiplicity of discrete pieces of similar solid matter, that normally substantially fills said interior space; said container having a top and a bottom and mutually spaced opposite lateral portions extending therebetween, and being comprised of two substantially flexible wall portions defining said interior space and having mutually confronting interior surfaces; an intermediate closure strip assembly extending substantially entirely across said container between said opposite lateral portions and at a level intermediate said top and bottom thereof, spaced from said top by at least about one-quarter of the distance between said top and bottom, to define a top section of said container, and being spaced from said bottom by at least about one-quarter of said distance to define a bottom section of said container; said intermediate closure strip assembly being comprised of a pair of mated, interengageable elongate closure strip components, one of said closure strip components being affixed on the interior surface of each of said wall portions of said container, elements of said closure strip components being longitudinally aligned for mated interengagement; displaceable protective cover elements normally overlying confronting surfaces of said interengageable elements of said closure strip components so as to prevent substantial contamination of said confronting surfaces by a product mass or associated materials; and at least one area of weakness provided on each of said wall portions of said container and extending thereacross within said top section of said container adjacent said intermediate closure strip assembly, said areas of weakness being aligned with one another to enable facile, manual removal of said top section of said container from the remainder thereof, following which the container may be closed at said intermediate level using said intermediate closure strip assembly.
 12. A method for consuming a product mass, comprising: providing a package comprised of a normally closed container defining an interior space, and a consumable product mass contained in said container and normally substantially filling said interior space, said consumable product mass consisting of a large multiplicity of discrete pieces of similar solid matter; said container having a top and a bottom and mutually spaced opposite lateral portions extending therebetween, and being comprised of two substantially flexible wall portions defining said interior space and having mutually confronting interior surfaces; an intermediate closure strip assembly extending substantially entirely across said container between said opposite lateral portions and at a level intermediate said top and bottom thereof, said intermediate closure strip assembly being spaced from said top by at least about one-quarter of the distance between said top and bottom, to define a top section of said container, and being spaced from said bottom by at least about one-quarter of said distance to define a bottom section of said container; said intermediate closure strip assembly being comprised of a pair of mated, interengageable elongate closure strip components, one of said closure strip components being affixed on the interior surface of each of said wall portions of said container, and said strip components being normally spaced from one another with a portion of said product mass interposed therebetween, elements of said closure strip components being longitudinally aligned for mated interengagement in the substantial absence of said interposed product mass portion; and at least one area of weakness provided on each of said walls of said container and extending thereacross within said top section of said container adjacent said intermediate closure strip assembly, said areas of weakness being aligned with one another to enable facile, manual removal of said top section of said container from the remainder thereof, following which the container may be closed at said intermediate level using said intermediate closure strip assembly; opening said package; removing a portion of said consumable product mass, to so reduce the contents as to fill only said bottom section of said container; effecting manual removal of said top section of said container from said remainder thereof, by separation along said areas of weakness; and effecting closure of said bottom section of said container utilizing said intermediate closure strip assembly.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein said product is a snack food. 